Rapid multiplex phylogeny-based detection and identification of toxigenic Fusarium species

Summary: This project is linked with the EU-sponsored project "De-Tox Fungi". The fungal genus Fusarium comprises some of the most important toxin producers and pathogens of cereals and vegetables worldwide. Several g enes and/or spacers of many isolates and over60 species of Fusarium have been sequenced. Sequence data are available from databases and collaborators. Sequences of additional isolates and species will be determined. Available and new sequence data will be used to infer phylogenetic trees. Impor tant features, e.g. metabolite profile, geographic origin and host specificity will be mapped on the branches. Diagnostic sequence motifs corresponding with important clades and/or features will be retrieved from t he trees and used to develop diagnostic hybridization probes. The probes will be validated in assays with backgrounds ranging from single isolates to multiplex species including co-occurring fungal species and host plants. The final outcome of the project should be a simple, rapid and reliable multiplex assay for detection and identification of some important toxigenic Fusarium species, based on universal PCR and specific hybridization arrays. Because F. avenaceum is one o f the most important and abundan t species in Norway, and only 2 sequence accessions of this species have been published, we will particularly focus on thisspecies.